Legislation that proposes allowing small craft brewers to self-distribute their product is moving through the Statehouse. The bill, HB 205, would allow brewers of less than 60K barrels of beer annually to obtain a distribution license.
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild claims small brewers need self distribution to survive. The bill was opposed by the Association of Beer Distributors who called 60K barrels “a lot of beer.”
An amendment by Representative Greg Harris would change the definition to those manufacturing 20K barrels of beer annually. The bill is known as SB 88 in the Illinois Senate.
